Apparatus and method of playing a game

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for playing a card game. The apparatus comprising a set of cards with each card showing a plurality of symbols and indicators, and the indicators being arranged relative to a sub-set of cards to define one or more hands. The hands of two or more players are then compared to determine the outcome of the game.

This application claims priority from British Application Serial No. 0514851.5 filed Jul. 20, 2005.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to the apparatus for playing a game and to the method of playing the game.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for playing a game comprises a set of cards, each card showing a plurality of symbols and indicator means, the indicator means being arranged relative to a sub-set of cards, to define one or more hands.

According to one embodiment of the invention the indicator means comprises means for defining a line, the cards of a sub-set being positioned with respect to the line such that all or only some of the symbols on each of the cards are located to one side of the line, the symbols located to one side of the line defining a hand. The symbols on the cards, located on the other side of the line may be discounted from the game or may define a second hand. The indicator means may alternatively define a plurality of lines defining multiple hands.

The line may be a straight line or a bent line, for example a curved, U shaped or skewer line, or a zig-zag line. The line may be defined by printing on a playing surface. Alternatively, the line may be formed by a wire or rod which is located over the cards. According to a further alternative the line may be formed by projecting a light or laser beam onto a playing surface. In yet a further embodiment, the line may be displayed on the display unit of a video game.

According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the indicator means may comprise means for selecting and/or rejecting individual symbols of the sub-set of cards, to indicate one or more hands. For example the indicator means may be a frame or card defining apertures, which when placed over a sub-set of cards will frame certain symbols, to define a hand. Alternatively, the indicator means, when placed over the sub-set of cards may obscure certain symbols, the symbols left visible making up the hand. According to a further embodiment, the indicator means may frame certain symbols, obscure other symbols, while leaving yet further symbols neither framed or obscured, to define two hands.

The symbols on the cards may correspond to those of a conventional pack of playing cards and the hand or hands defined in the manner described above may be used to play various known forms of card game, for example poker, baccarat, blackjack or variations thereof. Alternatively other symbols may be used, to play other games.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention is now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:—

FIG. 1 illustrates various types of symbol that may be used in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates alternative arrangements of symbols that may be used in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 3 a and 3 b illustrates typical sets of cards for playing various card games;

FIG. 4 illustrates a layout of a playing area for a game in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a modification to the layout illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 illustrates a pair of hands, for playing a version of Pai Gow Poker in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates a hand for playing a version of Baccarat in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates various hands for playing a version of Poker in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 9 to 11 illustrate various alternative layouts of a playing area for a game in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 12 illustrates an alternative indicator means for use in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 13 illustrates a further alternative indicator means for use in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Where the context so admits herein reference to the male shall include the female, use of the singular shall include the plural and vice versa and the following terms shall bear the following meanings:—

-   ‘Card’ shall mean a card or tile containing two or more symbols; -   ‘Symbol’ shall mean any letters, number, colour or any other     pictorial image, for example fruit, transport systems, military     objects, flags, personalities etc. -   ‘Half-card’ shall mean one of the two symbols, present on a dual     symbol card; -   ‘Deal’ shall mean to provide cards to a player, whether by dealing,     displaying electronically, or other means for example a lottery or     scratch card. -   ‘Main bet’ shall mean the initial bet made prior to the cards being     dealt together with any subsequent or call bet; -   ‘Call bet’ shall mean any bet made after the cards shall have been     dealt, where such bet is required in the procedure of the game, or     any version thereof, to allow the player to remain in the game; -   ‘Side bet’ shall mean any bet other than the Main or call bet; -   ‘Win bonus’ shall mean a payment to a winning player at     pre-determined odds additional to any other payment such payment     being made where the player's hand is of a pre-determined value or     includes pre-identified cards or combinations thereof; -   ‘Play bonus’ shall mean a payment to a player, irrespective of     whether he wins or loses, at predetermined odds additional to any     other payment such payment being made where the player's hand is of     a pre-determined value or includes pre-identified cards or     combinations thereof.

In accordance with one embodiment, a game played in accordance with the present invention may be played by any number of players, typically up to seven, each player playing individually against a dealer.

The game is played using a set of cards 20, each card being divided into two, a separate symbol 22 being depicted on each half of the card. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the symbols 22 depicted on the cards may be similar to those used on conventional playing cards, numbers, letters or other symbols.

Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 2 each card 20 may depict 3 or more symbols 22, each symbol 22 being bounded by at least one edge of the card.

A set of cards 20 for playing various card games may comprise twenty eight cards 20 bearing symbols 22 representing eight (8) to ace (A) or ace (A) to seven (7), as illustrated in FIGS. 3 a and 3 b.

The game is played on a gaming cloth 24. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the gaming cloth 24 is divided into zones 26 for a plurality of players and a zone 28 for a dealer. Each of the player zones includes a series of betting boxes 30, 32, 34.

Each player zone 26 and the dealer zone 28 have a hand divider, in the form a line 36, which may be printed on the cloth 24 or may be in the form of a rod or wire, or a projected light or laser beam. The line 36 may be a straight line as shown in FIG. 4 or alternatively may be a curved or zig-zag line, or other geometric figure.

At the commencement of the game each player places a bet in the betting box 30. This bet is referred to as the Main bet.

A plurality of cards 20 are then be dealt to each player and to the dealer, in turn. Each player then arranges the cards dealt to him, by placing one or more symbols of each card on either side of the hand divider 36, in order to select one or two hands, to be compared against hands similarly selected by the dealer to decide on the outcome of the game.

In a variation of the game, at this stage, each player may to continue playing or to surrender his hand and any bet or part thereof he will have made and thereby the player will take no further part in the game.

The hand or hands of each of the players continuing is then compared in turn with the hand or hands of the dealer. If the dealer's hand or hands are better than or equal to the player's hand or hands the player will lose the Main bet. If the player's hand or hands are better, the dealer will pay out on the Main bet in accordance with a pre-determined tariff.

Prior to the cards being dealt a player may additionally place a bet or bets in box 32 on a Super Bonus chance the outcome of which depends on a card or card combination dealt to the player regardless of whether the player's hand or hands are better than those of the dealer.

Prior to the cards being dealt a player may additionally place a bet or bets in box 34 on an ID Bonus chance of being dealt a particular card or cards which will succeed or fail regardless of whether the player's hand as a whole is better than that of the dealer.

Prior to the cards being dealt the player may also place additional bets;

-   -   i) on the dealer being dealt a particular card or cards (the         dealer's ID Bonus) or a pre-determined combination thereof (the         dealer's Super Bonus); or     -   ii) whether the dealer's hand achieves a pre-determined value.

Furthermore the player may be entitled to be paid a ‘win bonus’ or a ‘play bonus’ in addition to any other payment dependent upon being dealt a pre-determined card or cards or a pre-determined combination of cards or a hand of a pre-determined value or rank or within a pre-determined range of values or ranks.

Various conventional forms of card game, or variations thereof may be played in accordance with the present invention, as described hereinafter.

Casino Dual-Symbol Card Game (Pai Gow Poker)

According to one embodiment of the invention a version of Pai Gow Poker, is played with a set of twenty eight cards 20, as illustrated in FIG. 3 b.

Each card 20 has two symbols 22, which represent the values ace (A) to seven (7), the set comprising the combinations, A-A to 7-7, (where Ace=one), the intermediate cards being 2-A, 3-A, 4-A, 5-A, 6-A, 7-A, 2-2, 3-2,4-2, 5-2,6-2,7-2, 3-3, 4-3, 5-3, 6-3, 7-3, 4-4 , 5-4, 6-4, 7-4, 5-5, 6-5, 7-5, 6-6, 7-6.

The game is played on a gaming cloth as illustrated in FIG. 4 or the modified cloth illustrated in FIG. 5 where, each player has an additional betting box 38 in which call bets may be placed.

At the commencement of the game each player will place a main bet in box 30. Each player may also place additional bets in boxes 32 and 34, to be settled, as described above.

Three cards 20 are then dealt face down to each player and to the dealer in turn.

Each player then arranges his cards 20 by positioning the cards 20 such that one or both symbols 22 on each card 20 lie in front of or behind the line 36, to form two hands, each hand comprising three symbols, as illustrated in FIG. 6.

The dealer then arranges the cards dealt to him, in similar manner and the dealer's hands are then compared with the hands of each player in turn.

Winning players are paid according to a pre-determined tariff, losing players losing their main bets placed on that particular hand.

If a player has placed bet on the Super Bonus chance and if such chance occurs he will be paid on the basis of a pre-determined tariff, regardless of whether his hand is better than that of the dealer. If the Super Bonus chance does not occur any bet so placed will be forfeit.

If a player has placed a bet or bets on the ID box and is successful the player will be paid on the basis of a pre-determined tariff regardless of whether his hand is better than that of the dealer. The ID bet is against the chance of a particular card out of those offered, typically a double-numbered card, being dealt to the player or to the Dealer. If the ID chance does not occur any bet so placed will be forfeit.

To determine who has the better hand as between the dealer and the player the following procedure applies:—

-   a) the player's objective is to create two three symbol hands, the     hand of lesser rank being in front (the front hand) of the line 36     and the hand of higher rank being behind (the back hand) the line     36, as shown in FIG. 5; -   b) the dealer also, so arranges his cards, the front and back hands     being ranked in order; -   based on the following rankings which from high to low are:—     -   7-7-7; 6-6-6; 5-5-5; 4-44; 3-3-3; 2-2-2; A-A-A;     -   7-6-5; 6-54; 54-3; 4-3-2; 3-2-A;     -   7-7-6; 7-7-5; 7-7-4; 7-7-3; 7-7-2; 7-7-A;     -   6-6-5; 6-6-4; 6-6-3; 6-6-2; 6-6-1;     -   5-5-6; 5-5-4; et cetera     -   to the lowest hand being 4-2-A -   d) if the player's front hand thus arranged, beats the dealer's     front hand and the player's back hand beats the dealer's back hand     the dealer will pay the Main bet at 1:1 (i.e. evens); -   e) if the dealer's front hand beats the player's front hand and the     dealer's back hand beats the player's back hand the player will     forfeit the Main bet; -   f) in all cases where the dealer's hand is of the same value as the     player's hand the dealer is deemed to have won the hand; -   g) if one of the player's hands beats the corresponding dealer's     hand and the other hand loses, the result is said to be a stand-off     and the Main bet is neither forfeit nor paid. -   h) irrespective of whether the Main bet wins, the dealer will pay     the player on any Super Bonus bet as follows:—     -   if the player is dealt;         -   three cards all doubles (i.e. any three of the seven double             cards 7-7, 6-6,         -   5-5, 4-4, 3-3, 2-2, A-A) the dealer will pay out 25:1;         -   two of the double cards 5:1;and         -   one double card 2:1. -   i) irrespective of whether the Main bet wins the dealer will pay the     player on any ID bet as follows:     -   if the player correctly identifies in advance a particular card         dealt specifically to him or a particular card dealt         specifically to the dealer, the dealer will pay the player 8:1.

In an alternative format of the game the player after seeing his hand may opt to continue in the game by placing a call bet in betting box 38, or to surrender his hand and thus by taking no further part in the game forfeiting all or a pre-determined percentage of the Main bet, with or without prejudice to the Super Bonus or ID bets if any.

The dealer's hand is compared with the hands of each surviving player in turn and the winner of each hand as between the dealer and each surviving player will be determined as set out above.

In all variations of the game each player may be offered the choice of placing a bet or bets on the Super Bonus or ID chances and in each such case the procedures described above will apply to determine the success or failure of such bets unless specifically set out to the contrary.

Casino Dual-Symbol Card Game (Pai Gow Baccarat—Hi)

Utilising the same equipment and betting procedure as described above, the player's objective is to create two ‘Baccarat’ hands from three cards 20, by positioning the symbols on the cards in front of or behind the line 36. Any number of the symbols may be positioned on either side of the line 36, as illustrated in FIG. 6.

The player must win both hands against the dealer to be paid, if the player loses one hand and wins the other a stand-off is declared and the player neither wins nor forfeits the Main bet. Otherwise the player will forfeit the Main bet.

In one version of Baccarat, repeated numbers in the same hand count as zero. The winning hand is the hand having the higher aggregate or total of the non-zero numbers on the cards of each hand; thus a hand of 7-6-6 (7+0+0) is valued as seven and a hand of 7-6-3 (7+6+3) is valued as 16.

In this version of the game a hand value of 18 (7+6+5) will be the highest possible total.

The side bets on Super Bonus and ID side bets are additional optional bets and the successful player will be paid whether or not the Main bet succeeds.

The winning side bets are as for Pai Gow Poker as described above.

Casino Dual-Symbol Card Game (Pai Gow Baccarat—Last Digit)

According to an alternative format of Pai Gow Baccarat hi described above, Pai Gow Baccarat—last digit, the value of the hand is equal to the last digit of the total.

As with the previous game, repeated numbers may count as zero, in which case the hand 7-6-6 will have a value 7 (7+0+0=7). According to an alternative variation, repeated digits may count at face value and consequently the value of the hand 7-6-6 would be 9 (7+6+6=19).

In either of these versions a hand value of 9 will be the highest possible total.

As with the previous version of the game, the player must win both hands against the dealer to be paid. When the player loses one hand and wins the other there is a stand-off and the player neither wins nor forfeits the Main bet. Otherwise the player will forfeit the Main bet.

The side bets on Super Bonus and ID side bets are additional optional bets and the successful player will be paid whether or not the Main bet succeeds. The winning side bets are as for Pai Gow Poker as described above.

Casino Dual-Symbol Card Game (Pai Gow Black Jack)

The dealer's cards 20 then arranged in similar manner and compared with the hands of each player in turn.

Winning players will be paid according to a pre-determined tariff; losing players will lose the bets placed on that particular hand.

If the player's front hand thus arranged beats the dealer's front hand and the player's back hand beats the dealer's back hand the dealer will pay the Main bet at 1-1 (i.e. evens).

If the dealer's front hand beats the player's front hand and the dealer's back hand beats the player's back hand the player will forfeit the Main bet.

In all cases where the dealer's hand is of the same value as the player's hand the dealer is deemed to have won the hand.

If one hand wins and the other hand loses the result is said to be a stand-off and the Main bet is neither forfeit nor paid.

The side bets on Super Bonus and ID side bets are additional optional bets and the successful player will be paid whether or not the Main bet succeeds.

The winning side bets are as for Pai Gow Poker as described above.

As a further variation of the set of cards 20 used have symbols with values ranging from ace (A) in ascending order to ten (10) where the value of the Ace may be one or eleven at the player's choice. Two cards are dealt to each player and the dealer, and either the player or the dealer have the option to draw a third card.

Additionally or as a further variation of the game the dealer must draw a third card if either or both his hands total within a pre-determined range.

Additionally or as a further variation of the two card version of the game, the player will be able to place an additional bet on either of or both hands created by him from the two cards dealt, if either or both his hands total within a pre-determined range.

Casino Dual Symbol Card Game (Baccarat Lo)

The apparatus and betting procedure outlined above may also be used in an alternative version of Baccarat, where the player's objective is to create a hand the total value of which is lower than that of the dealer.

In this embodiment of the game the repeated numbers have a zero value and are eliminated from the calculation of the value of the hand. Thus for example if the three cards dealt are 3-3, 6-3, 5-5, the cards may be positioned relative to line 36, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the value of the front hand will be 6,while the value of the rear hand is 0 (i.e. 3-3-3=0+0+0 and 5-5=0+0).

The side bets on Super Bonus and ID side bets are additional optional bets and the successful player will be paid whether or not the Main bet succeeds. The winning side bets are as for Pai Gow Poker as described above.

Casino Dual-Symbol Card Game (Poker)

Again the same equipment and betting procedure may be used to play a version of poker, where the player's objective is to create a five card poker hand higher than that of the dealer by arranging the three cards 20 dealt to him such that five symbols forming a poker hand are positioned on one side (the playing side) of line 36, discarded symbols being positioned on the other side (the non-playing side) of line 36.

The ranking of the hands is as follows: Four of the same rank e.g. 6-6-6-6-5 (see FIG. 8) Full House e.g. 6-6-6-2-2 (see FIG. 8) Straight e.g. 6-5-4-3-2 (see FIG. 8) Three of the same rank e.g. 6-6-6-3-2 (see FIG. 8) Two pairs e.g. 6-6-2-2-3 (see FIG. 8) One pair e.g. 6-6-4-3-2 (see FIG. 8) High card e.g. 7-6-4-3-2 (see FIG. 8)

With hands of the same type, the rank depends on the highest numbers, seven (7) being high and ace (A) low. That is 6-6-6-6-5 will beat 3-3-3-3-7 and 6-6-6-2-2 will beat 5-5-5-4-4.

All winning Main bets are paid 1;1.

The Super Bonus bet will succeed with the following hands: a hand comprising a six-card straight pays 25:1 a hand comprising three double number cards pays 20:1 a hand comprising two sets of three of a kind pays  5:1

Double-Barrelled (Multiple) Version

Two or more of the above mentioned games, or variations thereof may be played in combination, the players using the cards dealt to them to produce appropriate hands for the games being played. For this option, the cloth 24 is modified by inclusion of a ‘barrel’ call box 40, in each player zone 26, as illustrated in FIG. 9. In such multiple or ‘double-barrelled’ format versions the dealer may rely on the same dealt hand for both games or, if more than two games are played with the same cards, for all such games, a single box 42 being provided for the dealer's cards, as illustrated in FIG. 9.

As a further alternative the dealer may be dealt an extra hand to play the second game or, if more than two games are played with the player's same dealt hand the dealer may be dealt the same number of hands as games played, additional boxes 44 being provided on the cloth 24 for the dealer's additional hands, see FIG. 10.

Betting on the Dealer's Hand

In the various games described above or variations thereof, additionally and without departing from the invention a player may bet on the value or range of values of the dealer's hand calculated in accordance with a pre-determined table of values and if the player correctly forecasts the value or range of values as defined the dealer will pay odds within the ranges of 1:1 to 25:1, according to the likelihood of occurrence of each such bet.

Dealer's Qualifying Hand

In the various games described above or variations thereof, additionally and without departing from the invention, the dealer may automatically lose the hand to any surviving or calling player if the dealer's hand fails to qualify according to pre-determined qualification values for the game or any of its variations and in the event of the dealer so failing to qualify the will pay the player's initial bet only together with any successful Super Bonus or ID bet whether based on he player's hand or that of the dealer.

Win Bonus

In the various games described above or variations thereof, additionally and without departing from the invention, the dealer may pay to the winning player a win bonus should the player's winning hand rank below or above a pre-determined value or within a pre-determined range of values.

Play Bonus

In the various games described above or variations thereof, additionally and without departing from the invention, the dealer may pay to a player, whether he loses or wins the hand, a play bonus should the player's hand contain certain pre-determined card or cards or be valued at or within a pre-determined range of values.

According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, in place of a line, the indicator means may constitute a geometric figure, for example a square or rectangle. In this case, one hand may be represented by symbols arranged within the geometric figure, while the symbols outside the geometric figure represent the second hand or discarded symbols, depending on the game.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the indicator means may comprise means for selecting certain symbols and/or means for rejecting certain symbols.

As illustrated in FIG. 12 selection means 50 may comprise a wire frame 52 defining a plurality of apertures 54. The frame 52 is placed over an arrangement of cards 20, so that symbols 22 on the cards 20 are framed by the apertures 54, the symbols 22 so framed being selected to constitute a hand. The cards 20 may be prearranged as they or dealt, or after being dealt may be arranged by the player, so that an optimum hand is selected. Instead of the wire frame 52 a card with apertures cut out may be used.

FIG. 13 illustrates rejection means 56 which comprises a wire 58 with plates 60 mounted thereon. In like manner to the selection means 50 described above, the rejection means 56 is placed over an arrangement of cards 20, so that the plates 60 obscure some of the symbols 22. The symbols 22 still visible will then constitute a hand.

A combination of selection means 50 and rejection means 56, of the types described above, may be used, the symbols 22 framed by the selection means 50 constituting one hand, the symbols 22 obscured by the rejection means being discarded and the remaining symbols 22 constituting a second hand.

In a further embodiment of the invention, indicator means in the form of one or more lines or geometric figures may be laid upon an arrangement of cards 20, to select certain symbols 22 on the cards 20, in order to define one or more hands.

Other Variations

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example the game may be played with additional dual symbol cards with the odds re-calculated accordingly. Furthermore bets on other combinations may be permitted.

The games described above or variations may be played with cards having more than two symbols. The cards may furthermore have combinations of different types of symbol.

The games or any variations thereof, or any set of dual symbol cards may be adapted as a board game for family or adult use.

The games described herein or any of its variations thereof, may also be adapted for Internet entertainment, video slot machines, computer programs, interactive television or any electronic medium. In such case the term ‘gaming cloth’ as herein described is intended to cover a virtual representation of a gaming cloth.

Moreover use of the term ‘cloth’ is not intended to restrict the claims to use of a particular material but will cover any medium which defines a playing area for the games.

While in the above embodiments the player arranges the cards provided to him, in an alternative embodiment, the cards provided to each player may be pre-arranged, the player positioning indicator means relative to the pre-arranged cards to define one or more hands.

The terms ‘hand divider’, ‘hand eliminator’ and ‘hand selector’ used herein are intended to include any method whether physical, pictorial or virtual whereby some of the symbols of the cards for any hand dealt in the game or any modification thereof can be divided, eliminated or selected from other symbols of the cards dealt.

Additionally or alternatively the game or any variation thereof may be played or adapted for use in or as a lottery, on a scratch-card or by random selection of labelled balls or other equipment.

In an alternative versions or variations of the games described above the players may compete against each other. 

1. An apparatus for playing a game comprises a set of cards, each card showing a plurality of symbols and indicator means, the indicator means being arranged relative to a sub-set of cards, to define one or more hands.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which each card shows two symbols.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which each card shows three or more symbols, each symbol being bounded by at least one edge of the card.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 2 in which a set of cards includes twenty eight cards, the symbols on the cards being numbers or symbols representative of numbers, the numbers ranging from 1 to
 7. 5. An apparatus according to claim 2 in which a set of cards includes twenty eight cards, the symbols on the cards being numbers or conventional playing card symbols, the symbols ranging from 8 up to Ace.
 6. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which the indicator means comprises a line to each side of which one or more symbols of each card of a sub-set may be arranged to define one or more hands.
 7. An apparatus according to claim 6 in which the line is formed by printing on a playing surface.
 8. An apparatus according to claim 6 in which the line is formed by means of a wire or rod which may be positioned over the cards.
 9. An apparatus according to claim 6 in which the line is formed by projecting a light or laser beam onto a playing surface.
 10. An apparatus according to claim 6 in which the line is bent.
 11. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which the indicator means comprises a geometric figure.
 12. An apparatus according to any one of claim 11 in which the indicator means comprises a square or rectangle.
 13. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which the indicator means comprises selection means which when placed over an arrangement of a sub-set of cards, will select specific symbols, to define at least one hand.
 14. An apparatus according to claim 13 in which the selection means comprises a wire frame or card with apertures which will frame the selected symbols, when laid over the arrangement of cards.
 15. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which the indicator means comprises rejection means which when placed over an arrangement of a sub-set of cards, will obscure specific symbols, the unobscured symbols defining at least one hand.
 16. An apparatus according to any claim 13 in which the rejection means comprises a wire with plates mounted thereon which, when the rejection means is placed over an arrangement of a sub-set of cards will obscure specific symbols.
 17. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which the indicator means comprises a combination of selection means and rejection means.
 18. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which the sub-set of cards is pre-arranged.
 19. A method of playing a game using multi-symbol cards, comprising the steps of; providing each of a plurality of players with a plurality of multi-symbol cards; each player arranging said cards relative to indicator means, to produce one or more hands; and comparing the or each hand of each player with the or each hand of one or more other players to decide the outcome of the game.
 20. A method according to claim 19 in which one of said players is a dealer, the or each hand of the or each of the other players being compared against the or each of the dealer's hands to determine the outcome of the game.
 21. A method according to claim 19, in which the cards show dual symbols.
 22. A method according to claim 21, in which the indicator means comprises a line, the dealt cards being placed with one or both symbols on either side of the line.
 23. A method according to claim 22, in which the symbols on one side of the line define a first hand and the symbols on the other side of the line define a second hand.
 24. A method according to claim 23, in which the symbols are arranged so that the first hand is of equal or higher rank than the second hand.
 25. A method according to claim 23, in which one of the players is a dealer, the first hand of the or each player is compared against a similarly derived first hand of a dealer and the second hand of the or each player is compared against a similarly derived hand of the dealer; the player winning the game if both the player's hands beat the corresponding hands of the dealer; the player losing the game if both of the dealer's hands beat the player's hands; and a stand-off being declared if one of the player's hands beats the dealer's hand, while the other of the player's hands loses to the dealer's hand.
 26. A method according to claim 25, in which if a player's hand is of equal rank to the corresponding dealer's hand, then the player's hand loses.
 27. A method according to claim 25, in which a each player and the dealer in turn are dealt three cards, each player and the dealer arranging the cards relative to the line, to define a first hand and a second hand, each hand consisting of three symbols, the player's hands being compared with the dealer's hands on the basis of the following ranking:— three of a kind; straight (three symbols in sequence); pair; high card; for hands of similar rank, the values of the symbols being taken into account.
 28. A method according to claim 25, in which a each player and the dealer in turn are dealt three cards, each player and the dealer arranging the cards relative to the line, to define a first hand and a second hand, each hand consisting of at least one symbol, the values of the symbols being summed to determine the value of the hand, on comparison of the hands the higher total winning.
 29. A method according to claim 28, in which repeated symbols on each hand are counted as zero in determining the value of the hand.
 30. A method according to claim 25, in which a each player and the dealer in turn are dealt three cards, each player and the dealer arranging the cards relative to the line, to define a first hand and a second hand, each hand consisting of at least one symbol, value of the hand being equal to the last digit of the total of the values of the symbols constituting the hand, on comparison of the hands the higher final digit winning.
 31. A method according to claim 30, in which repeated symbols on each hand are counted as zero in determining the value of the hand.
 32. A method according to claim 25, in which a each player and the dealer in turn are dealt three cards, each player and the dealer arranging the cards relative to the line, to define a first hand and a second hand, each hand consisting of at least one symbol, the values of the symbols being summed to determine the value of the hand, on comparison of the hands the lower total winning.
 33. A method according to claim 32, in which repeated symbols on each hand are counted as zero in determining the value of the hand.
 34. A method according to claim 25, in which a each player and the dealer in turn are dealt three cards, each player and the dealer arranging the cards relative to the line, to define a first hand and a second hand, each hand consisting of three symbols, the value of the hand being equal to the totals of the values of the symbols constituting the hand, on comparison of the hands the higher total not exceeding 21 winning.
 35. A method according to claim 25, in which a each player and the dealer in turn are dealt two cards, each player and the dealer arranging the cards relative to the line, to define a first hand and a second hand, each hand consisting of two symbols, the value of the hand being equal to the totals of the values of the symbols constituting the hand, on comparison of the hands the higher total not exceeding 21 winning.
 36. A method according to claim 35, in which the or each player and/or the dealer have the option to draw a third card, the symbols of which may be added to one or both hands.
 37. A method according to claim 35, in which the dealer must draw a further card, if either or both the dealer's hands each total within a pre-determined range, the symbols of the further card being added to one or both hands.
 38. A method according to claim 22, in which one or more players and a dealer in turn are dealt three cards, each player and the dealer arranging the cards relative to the line, to define on one side of the line one, hand consisting of five symbols, a symbol to the other side of the line being discarded, the hand of each player being compared to the hand of the dealer on the basis of the following rankings; Four of a kind (four of the same symbol); Full house (three of the same symbol and two of another symbol); Straight (five symbols in sequence); Three of a kind (three of the same symbol); One Pair (two of the same symbol); High card (Highest valued symbol); for hands of similar rank, the values of the symbols being taken into account.
 39. A method according to claim 38, in which if a player hand is of equal rank to the corresponding dealer's hand, then the player's hand loses.
 40. A method according to claim 19 in which two or more different games are played sequentially, using the same cards dealt to each player.
 41. A method according to claim 40 in which one of the players is a dealer, the or each of the player's hands being compared to the or each of the dealer's hands using two or more criteria.
 42. A method according to claim 41 in which the dealer uses the same dealt cards for each game.
 43. A method according to claim 41 in which the dealer is dealt a new set of cards for each game.
 44. A method according to claim 21 in which each player arranges the dealt cards, the player then places indicator means over the arrangement of cards to select specific symbols which will constitute a hand.
 45. A method according to claim 21 in which each player arranges the dealt cards, the player then places indicator means over the arrangement of cards, the indicator means obscuring certain symbols from the arrangement, the symbols still visible constitute a hand.
 46. A method according to claim 21 in which each player arranges the dealt cards, the player then places indicator means over the arrangement of cards, the indicator means selecting some symbols from the arrangement of cards, the selected symbols constituting one hand, the indicator means furthermore obscuring some of the symbols of the arrangement of cards not selected, the symbols of the arrangement of cards not selected and not obscured constituting a second hand.
 47. A method according to claim 20 in which before the cards are dealt, the or each player may place a bet on the outcome of the game.
 48. A method according to claim 47 in which after the cards are dealt, each player may place a call bet on remain in the game the game.
 49. A method according to claim 47 in which the or each player may place one or more side bets.
 50. A method according to claim 49 in which the or each player may place a bet on any player or the dealer being dealt a hand of specified rank, the bet to be paid out at pre-determined odds.
 51. A method according to claim 49 in which the or each player may place a bet on a predicted card being dealt to the player or the dealer, the bet to be paid out at pre-determined odds.
 52. A method of playing a game using multi-symbol cards, comprising the steps of; providing each of a plurality of players with a pre-arranged plurality of multi-symbol cards; each player arranging indicator means on the pre-arranged cards, to produce one or more hands; and comparing the or each hand of each player with the or each hand of one or more other players to decide the outcome of the game. 